01 June 2013 Glencoe Grand Prix

Rainbow over Glencoe post-event. Photo by John Wilke

The Glencoe Grand Prix is one of my favourite races. Located in Glencoe IL on the Chicago North Shore only 30 mi (50 km) east of my hometown, this race is not only an awesome, exciting course, but a strong supporter of women’s cycling and one of the best organised races in the country. I’ve watched this race grow from its debut as a small local venue in my first year racing in 2007 to more than double its size as a top notch NCC pro race. The race does an amazing job to engage the community and raise money to benefit the Glencoe Education Foundation with over $50,000 contributed last year.  Racing-wise, unfortunately horrendous weather arrived just in time for this year’s women’s race. But it takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow. With this in mind, I took the opportunity to build yet more character and adjusted my goals accordingly: survive!

Selection of Glencoe rider cards. Photo by Starla Teddergreen

 

The weekend started with beautiful weather on Friday when race promoters organized for numerous pro riders to visit local Glencoe grade schools to spread the word about cycling and cycle safety, followed by a fabulous community dinner and the opportunity for local children to seek rider signatures on collector cards that have become a tradition at Glencoe.

Waiting for the start. Photo by John Wilke

 

Having recognized that one adjustment I’ve had to make as my recovery continues is a thorough warm-up, I gave myself plenty of time pre-race for some hard efforts to get my blood flowing and let me body know what to expect—despite extensive resistance of course! As the start time for the women’s pro race approached we were set off for a warm-up lap, but as we came around to the start/finish we were asked to clear the course. A short wait turned into 40 min of standing around, and as we finally took to the line, I was no longer feeling ready to race.

Awaiting callups as the National Anthem played and the rain began. Photo by Brian Lee

 

Teammate Starla Teddergreen and I toed the line alongside 53 other starters. As we stood on the line listening to the National Anthem and awaiting the race start, a light sprinkle began to dot the dry roads. By the time the whistle blew to signify the start, the roads were slick—and I, still getting my head back into racing, was feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Peloton climbing Park Ave early in the race. Photo by Josh Dreyfus

I got a great start off the line for the first lap but slowly drifted to the back of the pack, my discomfort heightened by bunching of the peloton around the slippery corners accompanied by a disconcerting difficulty breathing in the humid air. I tried to focus on getting enough oxygen. And then the torrential downpour began.

Torrential rains impaired vision. Photo by Velonews

 

The field strung out single file and from the back of the pack I could no longer see the front of the group, let alone just a few riders in front of me. The rains can down so hard the roads flooded with water. The street gutters turned to rivers as water streamed down the rise on the backside of the course. On one corner at the bottom of the course we encounter a ‘lake’ of water almost up to the hubs on our wheels. Fortunately experienced marshals lined the course who warned us to slow before we hit the ‘wall’ of water.

Winning trio escaped the field. Photo by John Wilke

At some point at the front of the race (well out of my view), a break of three riders, eventual winner and NCC leader Erica Allar (Care4Cycling), U23 NCC leader Sam Schneider (TIBCO), and the ever-amazing current NCC runner-up Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), launched off the front. As a testament to the excellent skills of these riders, the three remained clear of the field, maintaining a 45-s gap to claim the race podium.

Yellow Vittoria shoes make Vanderkittens easy to spot. Photo by John Wilke

 

With five laps to go, one of the flooded corners claimed Starla who went down hard on the wet pavement, taking a good knock to the head and sliding hip-first into the not-so-forgiving curb. The crash required a delay of race while Starla’s injuries were assessed to ensure she could be moved safely. I’m happy to report that although a bit bruised she is well and ready to race Tulsa this weekend!

Reduced lineup post-delay. Photo by John Wilke

 

The restart revealed that the field had whittled to less than half its original size, with numerous (perhaps more sensible!) riders pulling out. After a few minutes delay and the worst of the rains past, we were given four laps remaining. In the finish, I managed seventh in the sprint to give me tenth place overall. I was pretty happy to just finish upright to be honest and feel that the 26 riders who finished the race, including awesome Chicago-based riders Jessi Prinner (Care4Cycling), Sarah Rice (Spider Monkey), Kelli Richter (PSIMET riding for Primal), Rockford-native Meredith Miller (TIBCO), and Kiwi superstar Rushlee Buchanan (TIBCO) deserve a huge shout out.

The race concluded with a double rainbow as the men lined up for their start. Photo by John Wilke

 

With skies darkening just before the start, I was grateful for my awesome Smith Optics PivLoc sunglasses, which allow speedy lens changes, my DeFeet UnD Recycle undershirt, perfect as for the changing temperatures, and my TRP brakes, which got quite a bit of use over the course of the race. Special thank yous to the Glencoe community, Race Director Jon Knouse and Support Director Nikki Cyp for all their hard work to make this race bigger and better and more awesome every year, Jose at SRAM neutral support and Rob Curtis at PSIMET racing getting my bicycle in top running condition, Leah Sanda for taking care of an injured Starla, and my parents for their incredible support and excellent ‘host’ housing.